---
title: "DROP OPERATOR"
id: sql-dropoperator
pg_version: "20devel"
---

<a id="sql-dropoperator"></a>

# DROP OPERATOR — remove an operator

## Synopsis

```
DROP OPERATOR [ IF EXISTS ] name ( { left_type | NONE } , right_type ) [, ...] [ CASCADE | RESTRICT ]
```

<a id="id-1.9.3.121.5"></a>

## Description

`DROP OPERATOR` drops an existing operator from the database system. To execute this command you must be the owner of the operator. 

<a id="id-1.9.3.121.6"></a>

## Parameters

**`IF EXISTS`**

 Do not throw an error if the operator does not exist. A notice is issued in this case. **`name`**

 The name (optionally schema-qualified) of an existing operator. **`left_type`**

 The data type of the operator's left operand; write `NONE` if the operator has no left operand. **`right_type`**

 The data type of the operator's right operand. **`CASCADE`**

 Automatically drop objects that depend on the operator (such as views using it), and in turn all objects that depend on those objects (see [Section 5.17](ddl-depend.md)). **`RESTRICT`**

 Refuse to drop the operator if any objects depend on it. This is the default. <a id="id-1.9.3.121.7"></a>

## Examples

Remove the power operator `a^b` for type `integer`: 
DROP OPERATOR ^ (integer, integer);
 

Remove the bitwise-complement prefix operator `~b` for type `bit`: 
DROP OPERATOR ~ (none, bit);
 

Remove multiple operators in one command: 
DROP OPERATOR ~ (none, bit), ^ (integer, integer);


<a id="id-1.9.3.121.8"></a>

## Compatibility

There is no `DROP OPERATOR` statement in the SQL standard. 

<a id="id-1.9.3.121.9"></a>

## See Also

[CREATE OPERATOR](sql-createoperator.md), [ALTER OPERATOR](sql-alteroperator.md)